80R3688 JH-D

By: Chisum H.R. No. 39

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The State of Texas has lost an esteemed statesman with the death of former speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, the Honorable Bill W. Clayton of Springlake, who passed away on January 6, 2007, at the age of 78; and

WHEREAS, Born on September 11, 1928, Bill Clayton grew up as a member of a farming family near the Texas Panhandle town of Springlake; after earning a degree in agricultural economics at Texas A&M University in 1950, he assumed the management of the family farm and also took part in other business enterprises in the Springlake area; and

WHEREAS, His interest in civic affairs led him into politics, and after serving as a delegate for Lyndon Johnson at the Democratic National Convention in 1960, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1962; for the next two decades, this insightful leader was repeatedly returned to office, and he became an influential figure at the State Capitol; Representative Clayton was particularly concerned with water issues and sponsored legislation that called for increased resources and conservation in the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, With a reputation for building consensus among other legislators, Bill Clayton was recognized as a candidate to lead the chamber, and in 1975 he was elected as the 70th speaker of the house of representatives; he retained that position until he retired from the legislature at the end of 1982, and his eight-year tenure was twice as long as any previous Texas speaker; and

WHEREAS, Pioneering new initiatives to make state government more efficient and accountable, Speaker Clayton oversaw the enhancement of support services, electronic resources, and office facilities for legislators, and he expanded the activities of standing house committees and directed them to conduct research in the interim periods between legislative sessions; as vice-chairman of the Joint Advisory Committee on Governmental Operations, he helped implement a regular oversight process for state agencies through the Texas Sunset Act, and he was a driving force behind the creation of a new commission on ethics; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Clayton was renowned for his abilities to reach out to members of both parties and became the first Democratic speaker to appoint Republicans as committee chairs; his rapport with officials across the political spectrum continued after he left office, when he became the founder and president of Capital Consultants, a political and business consulting firm in Austin; Mr. Clayton, who switched to the Republican Party in 1985, also served two terms on the State Aircraft Pooling Board, was a regent for The Texas A&M University System, and was a member of the board for Campaigns for People, a group that promotes campaign finance reform in Texas; he also found time to further his education, earning an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin in 1992; and

WHEREAS, The straightforward qualities of rural living continued to be part of Bill Clayton's life, as he maintained his agricultural operations in Springlake and mentored his son, Tommy, in the management of the business; like many other residents of the farming community he called home, he was known for his calmness and common sense, and in bringing these qualities to the highest levels of state government, Bill W. Clayton established an admirable record of service that strongly influenced younger public servants and has had a lasting impact on the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Bill Clayton and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Delma Clayton; to his children, Tommy Clayton and Brenda Herrell; to his sister, Ann Kelley; to his brother, Donnie Clayton; to his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bill Clayton.